Alaska Hiking & Backpacking - Chugach Mountains (Near Anchorage)
Chugach National Forest, the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, and the state of Alaska have provided a network of trails in the Chugach and Kenai Mountains for those of the backpacking persuasion who prefer to tread the beaten path. Trails from the fringes of Anchorage ascend steeply into the high country of Chugach State Park, sparing users the effort of bushwhacking through the lower elevations on their way to the alpine tundra.
On the Kenai Peninsula, an extensive network of trails provides access to subalpine lakes and moose-filled meadows at the foot of snow-clad mountains. The Resurrection Trail, which runs from the village of Hope to the city of Seward, provides a great route for extended trips, with forest service cabins (nominal charge, advance reservations required) provided along the way.
During his early exploration of this area in 1899, Lieutenant John Herron noted that "the mountains are high and their steep sides from timberline down are covered with timber, brush, fallen trees, rocks, and ravines, making travel very annoying." Not much has changed in 100 years, and thus bushwhacking is not recommended in this area.